now, see....this is what I consider good information!
PPO, HMO, etc....doctors are supposed to be open minded and it seems as if I can't find not one Primary Care physician who is not fearful or close minded about the lifestyle....
There are many people who are swingers, into fetishes, etc. and yet our physicians are pushing us away!!!
Does your primary care or OB-Gyn know that you are a provider,hobbyists,into festishes (that may harm or leave marks) or part of the "Lifestyle" ?
Are you a PC that sees this certain type of patient?
----Keep Safe ALL---
-- Modified on 8/19/2005 8:06:07 PM
Having worked in the medical arena, I will say this: The less you say about your lifestyle the better. Doctors are required to "report" certain details of your medical condition (aka diagnosis) to several medication accreditation bodies via your medical history. Like credit agencies, insurers pay major bucks to be able to know the incidence of certain risks and of course they pay their actuaries to determine the level of certain risks in a population body. Often, based on medical history, people are denied claims, pay higher premiums, or are denied treatment based on lifestyle choices. It may shock you, but capitalists are here to make money and paying for extra-curriculuar fun is not a reason. If they can deny grandmothers certain OBGYN care because they are of a certain age, what makes you think your lifestyle choices are something they "want" to pay for...? Some things are best left to dark of night, unless of course you are meeting with doctors, physicians, or other caregivers who might be willing to list a malady in non-specific terms and even then, somethings cannot be masked. While you have to describe your symptoms or other aliments in specific terms, it's probably not anyone's business how it came to be. In cases where the evidence is overwhelming, (anal tears), then the reason may be obvious, but I would not report that I was a provider. It's not really a whole different for parachutists, deep-sea divers, and felons. People who have committed felonies for example, are often denied services such as life and health insurance etc. because of their past history.
We'd like to think, we live in a country and a society that thinks well of all people regardless of their choices, we do not. The stinch in the air is the very conservatism that leads us to unjustifed actions against people everyday. If you want to test the system, feel free. Alas, I would tell you to be very discreet about your lifestyle though I do think there are caregivers out there who will be sympathetic. It's likely though they may not live in your state.
-- Modified on 8/19/2005 10:00:02 PM
-- Modified on 8/20/2005 8:53:50 AM
... the other side of the coin is that providers, porn actors/actresses, or anyone who has sex with multiple partners has special medical needs which must be met somehow. Many providers have physicians who know all about what they do. Helps them get proper medical advice.
This issue goes beyond sex. I'm in great health and an age group competitive athlete largely because, 10 years ago, my PCP knew all about my alcoholism.
is less puritanical about sex, sex workers, and lifestyles that are not considered mainstream. If I am in the sex business, then CA has to be near the top for services that address special needs. But don't go expecting similar attitudes and services in New England and many places in the south. I have also found Washington state to be at the forefront of the alternative medicine movement. Whatever your situation, being discreet and discerning about who you trust with your information is important. That you have great and caring people out there is undeniable. If you thought that I was suggesting that you trust people w/o medical know-how, that was not my thinking.
I would not recommend telling your doctor.
Go to planned parenthood or use more than one doctor. A good doctor will not question someone getting tested and if they do say your previous boyfriend/husband cheated on you.
xo Lisa
-- Modified on 8/21/2005 10:12:07 AM
A patient's medical chart is seen by a number of people, starting with the reception clerk, nurses, doctors, lab techs, and billing people at the office. Then diagnosis codes and other info are sent to insurance, and the doctor's dictation is heard by medical transcriptionists.
Then the dictation and lab reports are mailed or faxed back to the office where clerks file it in the record. By then, a lot of people have seen the intimate details of your life.
Certainly, everyone is supposed to be professional and close-mouthed about what they see and hear. Unfortunately, certain people just cannot keep quiet about certain topics.
If a lady comes in repeatedly for STD tests, that WILL be noted and people will gossip and speculate.
I've seen cases where a high-profile person in the community (CEO or councilman) had a positive STD result and the ENTIRE office knew and were giggling. Very unprofessional, but it happens.
I would never in a million years tell my nice, but conservative, regular OB/gyn about my lifestyle.
Instead I go to Planned Parenthood (not using the same clinic each time), use a different name and and pay cash.
If something came back abnormal and I needed to see my regular OB, I'd make up a story about how I acquired the problem.
My doc is aware that I am sexually active with more than one partner but he doesn't need to know much more than that.
then go to a Planned Parenthood clinic. You can even make up a fake name and they give you an ID number to call back with to get the results over the phone. I go in for testing every few months and have never been asked for identification. The clinician will try to counsel you and ask why you are there so make up some BS story about how you suspect your boyfriend cheated on you and you want to be sure you are alright.
Personally, I would not want any sort of high risk behavior or tests showing up on my medical records and do not want that information passed along to my insurance company.
FWIW, I have a client who is a physician and he recommended that anyone involved in this lifestyle get a Hep B vaccine.
Agreed - see the link for more information.
All of my doctors do know. During my most recent visit (last Wedneday) for my annual exam, I was greated by my doctor with, "Hi Kimi, How's business?"
It would be foolish of me to compromise my medical care by withholding information from my caregivers. Perhaps, I'm just lucky that I have medical professionals who have a professional attitude and don't openly judge me.
When those feet go in the stirrups, its all greek to me.
now, see....this is what I consider good information!
Actually I am a surgeon, and have taken care of providers, dancers, etc. Actually, I am more fearful of those who don't disclose their history than those who do.